Saskatchewan-born philanthropists Gordon and Jill Rawlinson established the timely Rawlinson Fellow in Indigenous entrepreneurship that will provide money for a fellowship appointment in the University of Regina’s Faculty of Business Administration.

“I want the University to empower this country's up-and-coming Indigenous business leaders by giving them a world-class business education right here in my home province,” said Gordon Rawlinson in a media release.

Gordon and Jill Rawlinson Photo supplied

The Rawlinsons gifted $100,000 where Indigenous entrepreneurship is focused on with help from faculty members from the university’s Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business.

“The opportunity to concentrate on Indigenous entrepreneurship at this time in Canada's history provides a unique way for us to reduce educational and employment disparity experienced by many Aboriginal Canadians," said acting Dean of Business David Senkow. “This forward-thinking gift allows our Levene School of Business to be at the forefront of job creation for Indigenous people by Indigenous people.”

The Rawlinsons believe there is a need for more Indigenous entrepreneurs.

“Gordon and Jill Rawlinson have maintained a strong and longstanding commitment to the people of Saskatchewan, giving mindfully towards health care, the arts, and education,” said Dr. Vianne Timmons, University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor. “Their gift to our University is as timely as it is significant, allowing us to bolster our campus-wide Indigenization efforts, and more thoroughly engage our Levene School of Business in preparing Indigenous students to join the ranks of Canada's successful business entrepreneurs.”